If you want to start a lively discussion among Christians, just mention Middle Eastern immigration on Facebook or wherever believers are assembled. You will instantly have two opposing views: the compassionate ones who want to demonstrate the mercy side of Jesus and the ones who want to close the gates to possible enemies of America.

But one question probably will not be asked: “Why has God allowed this to happen to America now?”

Does the Bible offer some clues for us?

“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you (Deuteronomy 28:15)

The Old Testament deals mainly with nations, specifically Israel, but since the whole Bible is inspired by God, it also can speak to America today, right?

Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy is divided into two parts. Verses 1 to 14 reveal the blessings a nation receives if it obeys the commandments of God. The blessings include: cities being blessed, families being blessed, our wealth being blessed, our enemies being defeated, our goods being blessed, our lands receiving enough rain, crops being blessed, and our nation being blessed so that the other nations realize that God has blessed us.

Verses 15 to 68 reveal the curses a nation receives if it disobeys the commandments of God. Here’s a few to meditate upon:

A people whom you do not know shall eat up the produce of your ground and all your labors, and you will never be anything but oppressed and crushed continually. (Verse 33 NASB)

The foreigners living among you will become stronger and stronger, while you become weaker and weaker (Verse 43 NLT)

Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. Verse 48 ESV)

The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young. (Verses 49-50 ESV)

If I’m correct, it means America has immigration problems because our nation has sinned against the commandments of God. Then, it also means that pointing our fingers at President Obama, Congress, and other government leaders will help very little. And even the election of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz or whoever will do hardly anything to alleviate the immigration issue.

America has sin.

We need to fast and pray until we discover the sins that we have committed against God so we can repent of them.

(My book, New Wind Blowing, is free tomorrow on Amazon as an eBook. It offers insight into some sins I believe America needs to repent of and to do something about right now.)